Properly invoked, the Name of the Messiah is a profound statement of Christian Faith. In Luke’s Gospel we read: "the name Jesus was given the child, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived" (Luke 2:21). The symbolic Name the angel had given Him was "Emmanuel," which means "God with us." Jesus' messianic mission -- His destiny, if you will -- was to reveal to the world the Good News that God is indeed "with us." Thus, Jesus' fate is summed up in His Name: God With Us!
And speaking of names meaning something, I am reminded of an old baseball story about a Major League Baseball game in which the Cleveland Indians were playing the Chicago White Sox in the Windy City. It was the bottom of the ninth inning and Cleveland was leading 3-0 as Chicago came to bat for the last time. The first three Chicago batters reached base safely. With the bases loaded, the Cleveland manager called in a young relief pitcher. The first ball thrown by the new pitcher was promptly hit over the center-field fence for a grandslam walk-off home run! The game was over; Chicago had won, 4-3.
Later, in the clubhouse, the young relief pitcher went over to the Cleveland team's star pitcher, "Rapid Robert" (Bob) Feller -- one of baseball's "all-time greats." "Bob," he said to the biggest name in baseball at the time, "Tell me how you would have pitched that ball?"
Feller replied with typical soberness as he laced up his oxfords, "Under an assumed name!"
Later, in the clubhouse, the young relief pitcher went over to the Cleveland team's star pitcher, "Rapid Robert" (Bob) Feller -- one of baseball's "all-time greats." "Bob," he said to the biggest name in baseball at the time, "Tell me how you would have pitched that ball?"
Feller replied with typical soberness as he laced up his oxfords, "Under an assumed name!"
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